Children&#39;s furniture



CHILDRENS FURNITURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 10, 1938 ATTORNEYE,

July 7, 1942.

A. w. LEHMAN, JR., mm. 2,289,132

CHILDRENS FURNITURE Original Filed Oct. 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR5 ATTORNEY 5 July 7, 1942;

A. w. LE-HMAN, JR., ETI'AL CHILDREN'S FURNITURE Original Filed 001:. 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet5 NvENToRs azb erZWk/z mfi,

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ATTORNEY5.

' July 7, 1942.

A. w. LEHMAN, JR, EI'AL 2,289,132

CHILDRENS FURNITURE Original Filed 00ft 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTIORS- CZZZverZ WZe/zvzarz Jir,

Hazel; QZMM WP [Va/4M ATTORNEY5 Patented July 7, 1942 CHILDRENS FURNITURE Albert W.

Lehman, J r.,

and Cully Maier,

Cannelton, Ind, assignorsto The Lehman Company of America, Inc., Cannelton, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Original application October 10, 1938, Serial No. 234,102. Divided and this application August 18, 1939, Serial No. 290,756

Claims. (01. 5-100) The present invention relates to childrens furniture and more particularly to cribs, play yards, or the like, in connection with which it is desirable to protect the child from drafts.

The present application is a divisionof our copending application Serial No. 234,102, filed October 10, 1938.

In illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention a child's crib'will be used for exemplification.

Small children, particularly babies, must be kept warm and comfortable and still must have an adequate supply of fresh air. Babies spend the greatest portion of their time in a bed or crib and it is of utmost importance that they be prevented from catching cold through drafts. Various expedients have been adoptedfor preventing drafts striking the baby, among them being the employment of blankets surrounding the crib or the setting up of screens or the removal of the crib to remote points in the room away from windows and the like. None of these expedients is desirable or entirely satisfactory. They are bothersome, unsightly and even in some cases unsanitary. They are at best. makeshifts which the mother has been compelled to devise because of the construction of the furniture heretofore supplied for the use of the infant.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which is incorporated means to provide adequate ventilation and which at the same time is of simple construction, easily operated, attractive in appearance and sanitary.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved method of mounting the sides on cribs, play yards and the like, so that they may be more convenientlyand readily opsidewalls in lowered position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view of a portion of the side frame of a crib;

of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing the mouldin removed from the side frame;

Fig. 5 is a view with a portion broken away showing the means for connecting the movable side frame to the ends of the crib;

Fig. 6 is a view showing in detail the means for releasing from a plunger a split washer in order that the movable side frames may be connected to the ends of the crib;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line in a crib, comprises two ends II and [2, respectively, which are connected by side members 13 and M. The side members l3 and I4 are identical in construction with the exception that in' general practice the side member I3 is firmly secured to the end walls, .whereas the side member i4 is adapted to be raised and lowered in the manner and by the means hereinafter to be described. There is also provided the usual spring and mattress which may be of standard construction.

Referring to the side wall [4 shown in Fig. 1, it will be observed that the side walls comprise a frame member I5 in which is rigidly mounted a plurality of spaced-slat members l6.

Slidably mounted on the frame 15 are subframes l1 and I8 respectively, which subframes are provided with a plurality of spaced slat members Hi. It will be apparent that by movement of the subframes l1 and 18 the slat members 19 may be so positioned as to superimpose the slat members [6 or so as topartiallv or completely cover the spaces between the slat members 16. Positioned at the middle of the frame I5 is a wide slat member 20 which is approximately equal in width to two of the slat membersl9. Consequently, in order to close the spaces between the slat members is the subframes l1 and I8 are moved apart or towardtheir respective ends of the crib and in order to open; the spaces between the slat members IS the subframes I1 l8 on to the main side frame |3 so as to permit sliding movementof the subframes is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 10. Referring to these figures it will be observed that the main frame I5 is provided with pins 2| which have mounted at their outer ends washers 22. These pins project through slots 23 provided in the subframes. A moulding 24, having a groove therein, which is adapted to receive the heads of the pin 2| and the washers 22, is mounted over the top and bottom portions of the subframes. For decorative purposes and ease of operation the moulding of the head portion may be differently shaped from that of the bottom. The top moulding, as shown in Fig. 9, is so shaped as to fit the fingers to permit easy grasping of the same to move the subframes relative to the main frame of the side wall and also to aid in raising and lowering the sidewall l4.

Positioned between the subframe l8 and the main frame l5 are washers 23 which prohibit any frictional engagement between the subframes and the main frame and are conducive to easier operation of the subframes on the main frame. The grooved portions 25 of the subframe moulding 24 are generally'so shaped that the washer 22 tends to ride against these grooved portions and to rotate so that as the subframe is moved the washers act as bearings and feels as though the subframe were mounted on ballbearings. The movement of the subframe relative to the main frame, of course, is limited by the length of the slot 23, this slot being of just suflicient length to permit the subframe being moved so as to superimpose slats IS on the slats IS in one direction and in the opposite direction to permit the slats l9 to completely cover the spaces between the slats l6.

The structure described is extremely simple from a mechanical standpoint, is readily assembled in a production line and from the standpoint of the user is extremely easy to manipulate. Furthermore, due to its compactness it is pleasing in appearance and neat, the design of the crib being not interfered with in any way due to the mechanical structure involved.

It is to be observed that all of the slats, both those mounted in the subi'rames l1 and I8 and those mounted in the main frame l5, are rigidly secured at both ends and there is no movement of the slats other than as a unit in the subframes. Thus the structure is strong and there is no way in which slats can get out of alignment or for the mechanism to bind or stick.

As has heretofore been pointed out, the side 2'! mounted on the head and foot members H and I2 respectively. These channel members, as shown in detail in Fig. 8, are provided with elongated slots 28 which slots are hook-shaped at their upper portion 80 and are provided with an enlarged opening at the base as indicated by the reference character 3|.

The slots 28 are adapted to receive the heads of plungers 32, which plungers are shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12. Referring to the last mentioned figures it will be observed that the plungers consist of head portions 33 which are provided on their periphery with helical-shaped grooves, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Slidably mounted in the head portion 33 is a pin 34, the inner end of which pin is provided with a flanged portion 35. Between the head portion 33 and the flanged portion is a compression spring 36. On the outer end of the pin 34 is a head 31 and between the head 31 and the head portion 33 of the plunger are a pair of washers 38 which washers are preferably constructed of fibre, Bakelite or some similar material.

The head portion 33 of the plunger is provided with an annular groove 39 which has cooperating with it a locking pin 40 as shown in Fig. 11.

In the manufacture of the device holes 4| are drilled into the sides at appropriate points as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These holes are preferably slightly smaller than the head portion 33 of the plunger assembly. The plunger assembly is then forced into the holes. The plunger assembly will turn into the holes like a screw since it is provided with helical projections. This arrangement assures a tight fit of the plunger assembly in the side walls. To prohibit any movement of the plunger assembly the locking pin 40 is driven into the side walls and is so posiwalls |4 consist of a pair of channel members tioned that it will be in the annular groove 38. The foregoing construction provides a stout, simple and effective means of positively locking and maintaing the plunger assembly in the side walls of the crib. I

In order to. facilitate fastening the side wall l4 to the end walls the plunger assembly, as shown in Figs. 5, and 6 and '7, is provided with a split washer 42 which is inserted between the washers 38. As shown in Fig. 5 the projecting portion of the plunger assembly is then inserted in the enlarged portion 4| of the slot 28 so that the split washer 42 is in line with the edges of the slot 28. the side wall is moved upwardly the edges of the slot 28 will strike the split washer 42 and force it from between the washers 38, the washers 38 will engage the side walls of the slot 28 and the split washer 22 will drop downwardly and out.

The compression spring 88 will tend to draw the head 31 of the pin 36 inwardly and to force the washers 38 to firmly engage each side of the walls forming the slot 28. All of the plunger assemblies are inserted in the slot 28 in the same manner and when the side wall H has thus been mounted in the ends of the crib the enlarged portion 3| of the slot 28 is closed up by putting a plug therein, as indicated by the reference character 43 in Fig. 8. The plug 43 may be held by a screw or nail 44.

tion 3| by the closure member 43 the side walls cannot be removed from the end walls without removal of the closure member as the washers 38 are of greater width than the slot 28.

In the manipulation of the sidewall, the wall As shown in Fig. 6, as-

It will be apparent that upon closing of the enlarged poris raised to the point where the top plunger mechanism engages the .hooked portion 30 of the slot 28 and when dropped into the hooked portion it isobvious that the side wall will stay in elevated position until it is raised out of the hooked portion and again lowered.

semblies. This arrangement offers many adv'antages because it is obvious that in a crib structure it would be impossible to make it so rigid that the end walls would always be perfectly aligned. Consequently, unless some yielding means are provided there would be a tendency to, and in fact the side wall would, stick during the raising and lowering operations. However, any misalignment between the head and foot is compensated for by the compression springs; thus ease of operation of the side wall is insured at all times. Furthermore, due to the use of the compression springs as distinguished from any attempt at a rigid construction the end walls are able to give slightly under the action of the springs with the result that the tendency normally existing in such structures of the end walls .pulling their retaining fittings out of place is overcome. This feature is of particular imp rtance on the side ofthe crib which is adapted to slide up anddown for the reason that in ordinary crib structures loosening of the fasteningmeans tends to cause disalignment which results in a device that is hard to operate.

Another feature of the construction just described is that it permits'the designer to locate the plunger assemblies at practically any point in the side walls. Likewise, the members 21 may be of any desired length. Consequently, when the side member is dropped to its lowered position the downwardly projecting end portions 45 are brought adjacent the floor so that the rubber stops 46 actually engage the fioor as shown in for 'slidable engagement with said slot means and adapted to have a locking engagement with said lock means when 'desiried, said holding means having a yielding engagement with saidslot means to permit ease' of raising and lowering the slidably mounted side wall and to allow for disalignment of said end walls.

2. The combination with a crib having end walls and a stationary wall on one side connecting said end walls, of a movable wall on the reing a yielding engagement with said guide slot means to permit ease of raising and lowering the movable side wall in said guide slot means and to allow for disalignment of said end walls, and a locking means adjacent the upper end of said guide slot means to engage said holding means and support said movable side wall in a raised position.

3. In a crib having end walls, a stationary wall connecting said end walls on one side of said crib, and a movable wall connecting said end walls on the otherside of said crib, a guide slot means within said end walls adjacent said movable wall, holding means mounted in said movable wall-, said holding means having a yielding I engagement with said guide slot means tending to press said-holding means against said guide slot means, and'means associated with said holding means to mount the latter firmly in said movable side wall against the yielding pressure.

4." The combination with a structure of the I type described having end walls, of means for mounting a movable wall connecting said end walls, including channel members having elongated slots arranged therein mounted on said end Fig. 2. This feature is of importance because the side member of thecrib is down only when it is desirable to remove the infant therefrom or to work with the infant in the crib and since the rubber stops 46 engage the floor they prevent the crib from skidding or moving on its casters and rolling away from the mother or nurse. Furthermore, if it ,is desirable to place the crib alongside an ordinary bed with the side member down there is positive assurance that the crib cannot move away from the bed and permit the 7 child to fall between the bed and the crib.

It will be apparent that the foregoing struc-v fun has many advantages, particularly in that walls, sai'd'elongated slots forming housings to receive' enlarged members therein for sliding movement in connection therewith, and having enlarged openings therein to receive said enlarged members for insertion into said slots, holding members mounted in said movable wall. each of said holding members having an enlarged member in connection therewith for engagement with the inner sides of said slots initially through said enlarged opening, a second enlarged member in connection with each of said holding members for engagement with the outer sides of said slots opposite a first mentioned enlarged member, means mounted on said holdingmeans for yieldingly pressing said enlarged members and its cooperating second enlarged members towards each other onvopposite sides 01' said slots,

. and removable means initially inserted between on the respective sides of said slots.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 wherein the means initially inserted between said enlarged members is removable upon its engagement with the sides of said slot.-

' ALBERT W. LEHMAN, Ja.

CUILY MAIER; 

